Central to United’s recruitment strategy is a sensational pursuit of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. The Wythenshawe-born playmaker is reportedly unsettled in London and weighing a return to his roots in the North West. Despite his history with Manchester City, the England international—who famously netted the equalizer in the Euro 2024 final—is understood to favor a move to United, the club he supported as a child. United’s recruitment team is also casting a wide net across Europe; scouts were recently dispatched to Spain to monitor Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal, the man who scored the winning goal in that same European Championship final. This scouting mission coincided with ongoing discussions regarding the future of Marcus Rashford, who is currently navigating a loan spell in La Liga.
Internal stability remains a priority for United, particularly concerning the future of Kobbie Mainoo. The 20-year-old midfielder, who recently returned to the starting lineup under Michael Carrick’s guidance after being sidelined during Ruben Amorim’s tenure, is entering the final 18 months of his contract. Currently earning between £20,000 and £30,000 per week, the Stockport native is expected to command a significant salary increase to ward off interest from continental giants like Napoli. Meanwhile, the broader market is being rattled by the prospect of Vinícius Júnior and Mohamed Salah migrating to Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahli is reportedly preparing a staggering €1bn (£870m) bid for the Real Madrid superstar, a move that would shatter global records and further solidify the Saudi league's status as a destination for players in their prime.
Defensive reinforcements are also dominating the agenda at Liverpool, where Arne Slot faces a looming shortage at center-back. With Ibrahima Konaté linked with a summer exit and Virgil van Dijk approaching the final year of his deal, the Reds have identified Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven as a primary target. However, Spurs have reportedly inflated his valuation to £100m, a steep climb from the fee paid to Wolfsburg in 2023. Liverpool may attempt to soften the blow by offering Curtis Jones in a player-plus-cash arrangement. Should the deal materialize, it would finalize a distinctly Dutch core at Anfield, potentially seeing five Netherlands internationals in the starting XI
As the January window enters its final ten days, several clubs are scrambling for immediate solutions. Nottingham Forest, currently managed by Sean Dyche, is on the verge of securing a loan deal for 6ft 3in Italian striker Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese to address a goal-scoring drought exacerbated by Chris Wood’s injury. In a complex web of late-window movements, Chelsea is exploring a loan for Douglas Luiz, while Aston Villa is positioned as a likely destination for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. The ripple effect could see Palace raiding Leeds for Joël Piroe, who would in turn be replaced by Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen. These interconnected negotiations underscore the frantic nature of the mid-season market, where a single signature can trigger a chain reaction across the top flights of European football
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